I have been pondering a delicate question this week. Why is it I can only do one thing at a time? If only I could do several things at a time, I could get more accomplished.

I have been pondering a delicate question this week. Why is it I can
only do one thing at a time? If only I could do several things at a
time, I could get more accomplished.
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage is an expert when it comes to
multitasking. Although I have lived with her for over 45 years, I still
do not know how she does it. She is better than a circus juggler and
can juggle a dozen tasks at the same time.
Not me, that is for sure!
I like to do many things, but I have to do them in order and one at a
time. That is how I have always done things even though I have tried to
juggle two things at one time but it has never been successful.
Usually, both of them fall to the floor and I have to start all over
again.
Every day I make a list of things I need to do and start working on them
one by one. I am looking forward to the day when I will be able to
accomplish everything on my list.
Maybe I am just trying to do too much.
Like the other day, I needed to go across town to pick up something at
one of the office supply stores. Usually, I am not allowed to go into
the grocery store by myself. However, when my wife found out I was
going to go across town, she asked me if I would stop at the grocery
store and pick up a few things. Then she handed me a list, and said,
“Get everything on the list and only those things on the list.”
Then she gave me one of “those looks.”
It is hard for me to go into a grocery store and not pick up a few
things that I want. I have never seen any ice cream that I did not
want. However, when I am on strict orders with a shopping list, I don't
have any leeway at all.
It started out rather well. She handed me the list and I put it in my
pocket and headed for the front door. As I was going out, I heard her
say, “Remember, only those things on the list.”
I chuckled to myself and myself chuckled back. I was on a mission and I
knew I could accomplish it.
My favorite office-supply store is Staples. Everybody there knows me by
name because it is almost a second office for me. I have often
suggested that they have some coffee there for their customers, but if
that would happen, they would never get rid of me.
Staples was my first stop. When I got in there I walked by the pen
section. I never can walk by the pen section, I always have to stop and
examine all of the pens they have there. I have a nice pen collection
and I am always looking for some pen that I do not have. You never know
when you are going to find something that you do not have.
I love the fountain pen section. As I was looking at the fountain pens,
I saw one was on sale. For someone like me who is addicted to pens,
especially fountain pens, this was the end of the road.
It was a beautiful pen and was only half price. How in the world could I
resist this?
As I examined the pen, I realized I did not have one like this in my
collection. Even if I did have one like this in my collection, the
temptation to purchase would be overwhelming.
Therefore, I did what any pen obsessed person would do. I took it to the
counter, talk to the cashier about this wonderful pen and told her how
it would add dignity to my pen collection. She chatted back and told me
that it was a beautiful pen.
Finally, I paid for the pen and walked out to my truck.
All I could think about was that wonderful new fountain pen. I could not
wait to break in this new fountain pen, which is a delicate ritual that
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